Category Archives: News Stories

Cannabis For Infant’s Brain Tumor, Doctor Calls Child “A Miracle Baby”

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“Medical marijuana is gaining acceptance, but could it even help kids? Dr. William Courtney has seen it happen, and on Friday, told HuffPost Live host Alyona Minkovski about it. Saying he was “quite a skeptic 5 or 6 years ago”, Dr. Courtney continued that “my youngest patient is 8 months old, and had a very massive centrally located inoperable brain tumor.” The child’s father pushed for non-traditional treatment utilizing cannabis.

“They were putting cannabinoid oil on the baby’s pacifier twice a day, increasing the dose… And within two months there was a dramatic reduction, enough that the pediatric oncologist allowed them to go ahead with not pursuing traditional therapy.”

The tumor was remarkably reduced after eight months of treatment. Dr. Courtney pointed out that the success of the cannabis approach means that “this child, because of that, is not going to have the long-term side effects that would come from a very high dose of chemotherapy or radiation… currently the child’s being called a miracle baby, and I would have to agree that this is the perfect response that we should be insisting is frontline therapy for all children before they launch off on all medications that have horrific long term side effects.””

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/01/cannabis-for-infants-brai_n_2224898.html

Cannabis Oil Pills Helped Child Go Into Cancer Remission, Mom Says – ABCNews

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“When 7-year-old Mykayla Comstock was diagnosed with leukemia in July, it was less than three days before her mother filed Oregon medical marijuana paperwork so the child could take lime-flavored capsules filled with cannabis oil.

The decision to give Mykayla the capsules came naturally to Erin Purchase, MyKayla’s mother, who believes marijuana has healing power, but doctors aren’t so sure it’s a good idea.

“The first doctor was not for it at all,” Purchase told ABCNews.com. “She was rude and she told us it was inappropriate. “Basically she blew up at us and told us to transfer to another facility.”

They found a new doctor, who knows that Mykayla takes about a gram of cannabis oil a day — half in the morning and half at night — but he doesn’t talk about it with them.

“This is our daughter,” Purchase, 25, said. “If they don’t agree with our personal choices, we’d rather they not say anything at all.””

.””At first, Mykayla wasn’t responding well to her treatment, and doctors said she might need a bone marrow transplant. Then she started taking the cannabis oil pills. her mother said. By early August, Mykayla was in remission and the transplant was no longer necessary.”

“I don’t think it’s just a coincidence,” Purchase said. “I credit it with helping — at least helping — her ridding the cancer from her body.””

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/medical-marijuana-year-sparks-controversy/story?id=17814636

https://www.facebook.com/BraveMyKayla

“Like some cancer patients in states where it’s allowed, Mykayla Comstock uses cannabis as part of her treatment. Comstock is 7-years old. Her mother, a long time advocate for medical use of the illegal drug, has been giving her a gram of oral cannabis oil every day. Despite the fact that medical marijuana is legal in Oregon, where Comstock lives, the idea of giving it to a child still gives pause to many adults who associate the drug with recreational use that breaks the law.

As reported by ABC News, Mykayla was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July. Against her doctor’s wishes, her mother, Erin Purchase, began giving her lime-flavored capsules filled with cannabis oil after she had a poor response to her initial chemotherapy treatment.

Her doctors suggested a bone marrow transplant, but while she was taking the medical marijuana, she went into remission in August. She continues to rely on cannabis to ease pain and nausea and her mother plans to continue giving her the drug during the additional two to three years of chemotherapy she still faces.

Purchase believes that certain components in marijuana, which show anti-cancer activity in many early studies, helped spark the remission. Mykayla’s current doctor knows she takes the capsules, but doesn’t discuss the marijuana as part of her medical therapy.”  http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/30/health/medical-marijuana-children-time/

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/leukemia/

Marijuana-like brain chemicals could be key to treating fragile X syndrome.

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“In an international collaboration of research centers from America and Europe, scientists have revealed that increasing chemicals in the brain that act similarly to marijuana can help repair the debilitating symptoms associated with fragile X syndrome.

The overall success of this study could lead to future treatments for the condition, which has been identified as the most common genetic basis for autism spectrum disorders.  The research was published in Nature Communications.

The marijuana-like compound, called 2-AG, is a part of a class of chemicals called endocannabinoid transmitters.    These compounds are naturally made by the brain, and they act by combining to receptor proteins in the brain that marijuana chemicals also bind with.

Fragile X syndrome is the result of a mutation of the FMR1 gene in the X chromosome passed on by the mother.   The condition occurs mostly in males because females typically have another X chromosome to compensate for the faulty X chromosome.  Symptoms of fragile X often include mental disability, walking and language delays and hyperactivity – as well as certain physical characteristics such as an elongated face and large ears.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/25/marijuana-like-brain-chemicals-could-be-key-to-treating-fragile-x-syndrome/#ixzz2DStbqb00

Marijuana- Like Compound in Brain Reduces Anxiety Associated With Fragile X Syndrome

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“Increasing levels of a marijuana-like compound in the brain may help reduce some behavioral problems seen in people with Fragile X Syndrome.
Researchers say that the marijuana-like compound may help reduce some of the anxiety and learning-related issues in people with this condition. The compound, called 2-AG, falls under a class of chemicals in the brain called endocannabinoids transmitters.

 Fragile X syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes learning disabilities. Children with this condition have characteristic physical features like long and narrow face, large forehead and ears, flexible fingers and flat feet that become more apparent as the child ages. The condition is caused by a change in the FMR1 gene that codes for a protein that helps the brain grow properly.”

Read more at http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/12334/20120926/marijuana-compound-brain-reduces-anxiety-associated-fragile.htm#tFdDDvKazcBZ1gFG.99

  • mike

    “YES, finally its time… i have autistic spectrum and i have incorrect behaviors that cannot be fixed unless you tell yourself 24/7 and behaviors and thought process that is incorrect that you will never even know is incorrect. Ive tried marijuana before and the first time ive tried it ive done some self explaining to myself that was very different and i didnt know why. after using marijuana several times which i find relaxing if not used too much at once, i started realizing the difference in thought process and realizing the off things that i do and it got to the point where i actually started figuring out my problems with cannabis and i cant believe the correction in thought process when using this significant plant. there was never a cure for autism but this is the CLOSEST to it. i have a lot more things to say about this but it would take too long to write but all i have to say is this is THE best medication for personality disorders and autistic behaviors and correction to the thought process of such.”

Marijuana-Like Chemical May Help Autism And Fragile X Syndrome Symptoms

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“American and European researchers have found that increasing natural marijuana-like chemicals in the brain may help correct behavioral issues related to autism.

Daniele Piomelli of UC Irvine and Olivier Manzoni of INSERM, the French national research agency, led the study, which could result in treatments of anxiety and cognitive defects in individuals with fragile X syndrome, the most common known genetic cause of autism, according to a press release by UC Irvine.

The study examined 2-AG, which naturally occurs in the brain and is in a class of chemicals called endocannabinoid transmitters. These transmitters allow for the efficient transport of electrical signals at synapses, which is severely limited in people with fragile X syndrome.

The researchers treated mice that exhibited symptoms of fragile X syndrome with novel compounds that correct 2-AG protein signaling in the brain. And the results were promising–the mice showed “dramatic behavioral improvements in maze tests measuring anxiety and open-space acceptance,” UCI reports.

Piomelli said this is the first study to identify the role of naturally-occuring endocannabinoids, which share a similar chemical structure with THC, the primary psychoactive component of marijuana. “What we hope is to one day increase the ability of people with fragile X syndrome to socialize and engage in normal cognitive functions,” said Piomelli, a UCI professor of anatomy and neurobiology.

“It would be either an oral or injected drug but that’s at the very end stage of drug discovery, and we are at the very early stage of drug discovery,” Kwang Mook Jung, a researcher on the study and UCI professor, told The Huffington Post.

In addition, his study of endocannabinoids could result in new treatments for anxiety, pain, depression and obesity, according to UCI.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/27/marijuana-chemical-autism-fragile-x_n_1920320.html

 

Boosting Natural Marijuana-Like Brain Chemicals Treats Fragile X Syndrome Symptoms

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“ScienceDaily (Sep. 25, 2012) — American and European scientists have found that increasing natural marijuana-like chemicals in the brain can help correct behavioral issues related to fragile X syndrome, the most common known genetic cause of autism.

The work indicates potential treatments for anxiety and cognitive defects in people with this condition. Results appear online in Nature Communications.

Daniele Piomelli of UC Irvine and Olivier Manzoni of INSERM, the French national research agency, led the study, which identified compounds that inhibit enzymes blocking endocannabinoid transmitters called 2-AG in the striatum and cortex regions of the brain.

These transmitters allow for the efficient transport of electrical signals at synapses, structures through which information passes between neurons. In fragile X syndrome, regional synapse communication is severely limited, giving rise to certain cognitive and behavioral problems.

Fragile X syndrome is caused by a mutation of the FMR1 gene on the X chromosome. People born with it are mentally disabled; generally experience crawling, walking and language delays; tend to avoid eye contact; may be hyperactive or impulsive; and have such notable physical characteristics as an elongated face, flat feet and large ears.

The researchers stress that their findings, while promising, do not point to a cure for the condition.

“What we hope is to one day increase the ability of people with fragile X syndrome to socialize and engage in normal cognitive functions,” said Piomelli, a UCI professor of anatomy & neurobiology and the Louise Turner Arnold Chair in the Neurosciences.

The study involved mice genetically altered with FMR1 mutations that exhibited symptoms of fragile X syndrome. Treated with novel compounds that correct 2-AG protein signaling in brain cells, these mice showed dramatic behavioral improvements in maze tests measuring anxiety and open-space acceptance.

While other work has focused on pharmacological treatments for behavioral issues associated with fragile X syndrome, Piomelli noted that this is the first to identify the role endocannabinoids play in the neurobiology of the condition.

About endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoid compounds are created naturally in the body and share a similar chemical structure with THC, the primary psychoactive component of the marijuana plant, Cannabis. Endocannabinoids are distinctive because they link with protein molecule receptors — called cannabinoid receptors — on the surface of cells. For instance, when a person smokes marijuana, the cannabinoid THC activates these receptors. Because the body’s natural cannabinoids control a variety of factors — such as pain, mood and appetite — they’re attractive targets for drug discovery and development. Piomelli is one of the world’s leading endocannabinoid researchers. His groundbreaking work is showing that this system can be exploited by new treatments to combat anxiety, pain, depression and obesity.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120925121349.htm

Using medical marijuana to treat autism

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“NBC – Plenty of parents give their kids chocolate. But this is not your typical chocolate bar.

Meiko Hester-Perez is giving her severely autistic 12-year-old son, Joey, chocolate laced with medical marijuana.” 

Joey Hester-Perez

“Hester-Perez didn’t make the decision lightly. But this is what Joey looked like two-and-a-half years ago: he weighed just 42 pounds. It’s a stark contrast to his current weight of 112 pounds.

“My son was absolutely withering away. You could see the bones in his chest,” Hester-Perez said.

Out of desperation, she Googled cannabis and autism, and soon realized she wasn’t the only one that made the connection. Other parents and autism experts found success with medical marijuana as a treatment for autistic children. That was all she needed to take the next step to get a medical marijuana card for Joey. The first time she gave him a pot brownie, she said she saw immediate results.

“Everything is improved. Right now he’s given one brownie every two to three days. Whereas the other medications he was taking every single day, twice a day,” she said.

Hester-Perez said medical marijuana not only gave him a big appetite, which we saw ourselves as he munched almost non-stop on a bag of chips during our interview, it also helped his behavior, she said.

“He was calm, sociable, happy, more productive,” Hester-Perez said.

NBC called dozens of pediatricians, psychiatrists and autism experts looking for someone who would be critical of Hester-Perez’s decision, but no one wanted to talk on camera. We finally found Dr. Seth Ammeran, a Stanford professor who’s also on the American Academy of Pediatrics substance abuse committee. And while he doesn’t question parents’ motives in using medical marijuana to treat autism, he is concerned.

“Parents have the best interest of their kids at heart, and they want to do what’s best for their kids,” said Seth Ammeran. “But as a medical professional who really needs to look at the science behind recommendations, I can’t in good conscience recommend it.”

After all, she has experience. The mother in this story is trying money and awareness for autism and marijuana research through a non-profit called the Unconventional Foundation for Autism.”

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/267091/28/Mom-treating-sons-autism-with-pot-brownies

Can Medical Marijuana Help Severely Autistic Children? – NBCNews

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“While medical marijuana is used to treat dozens of ailments, one mother swears by it to help her severely autistic son.

In fact, she’s convinced pot has saved his life.

Meiko Hester-Perez gives her severely autistic 12-year old son Joey the marijuana in chocolate.

“When your son is knocking on deaths door there’s nothing you won’t do,” according to Meiko Hester-Perez. “It happened to be cannabis for our family.”

Hester-Perez didn’t make the decision lightly, two and a half years ago Joey only weighed 42 pounds. A stark contrast to his current weight of 112 pounds.

“My son was absolutely withering away. You could see the bones in his chest,” according to Hester-Perez.

Out of desperation, she Googled cannabis and autism, and realized she wasn’t the only one who made the connection.

Other parents and autism experts found success with medical marijuana as a treatment for autistic children.

The first time Hester-Perez gave Joey a pot brownie she saw almost immediate results.

“Everything has improved. Right now, he’s given one brownie every two to three days, whereas the other medications he was taking every single day, twice a day,” according to Hester-Perez.

But there are those who aren’t sold on the idea.

Doctor Seth Ammeran says using medical marijuana to treat autism is cause for concern because there has been no research on the topic.

“Parents have the best interest of their kids at heart, and they want to do what’s best for their kids, but as a medical professional who really needs to look at the science behind recommendations, I can’t in good conscious recommend it,” says Dr. Seth Ammeran, of the American Academy of Pediatrics Substance Abuse Committee.

But Hester-Perez says the research is there, it’s just not being done in the traditional sense.

“Whether we like it or not, the studies are being done,” says Hester-Perez, “and they’re being done within our homes.””

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/health/Can-Medical-Marijuana-be-used-to-Help-Severely-Autistic-Children-125125964.html

Marijuana cannabinoids found to help combat autism

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“(NaturalNews) The cannabinoid compounds naturally found in many varieties of cannabis, also known more commonly as marijuana, may help children with autism spectrum disorders experience dramatic behavioral improvements, and potentially even full recovery from their symptoms. These are the findings of a new study published in the journal Nature Communications that help reinforce the growing body of evidence which shows that medicinal cannabinoids hold incredible potential in both treating and potentially curing chronic illness.

Daniele Piomelli from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and her colleague Olivier Manzoni from Inserm, a French research agency, observed that marijuana cannabinoids are very closely related to the endocannabinoid transmitters naturally found in the brain that facilitate the transport of electrical signals between neurons. Known as 2-AG, these transmitters are responsible for regulating a whole host of important bodily processes, which include things like telling the body when it is hungry or when it is experiencing pain.

Children with autism spectrum disorders; however, including those who developed these disorders as a result of Fragile X syndrome, which is said to be the most commonly-known genetic cause of autism, often have poorly or non-functioning 2-AG, which necessitates chronic synaptic failure in the brain. Many children with Fragile X-induced autism end up becoming mentally disabled as a result of this synaptic failure, and have trouble developing basic motor skills like walking and talking, or learning how to behave in various social situations.

But taking marijuana cannabinoids, which as we pointed out in an earlier article are not psychoactive in the same way that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is (http://www.naturalnews.com/035759_cannabis_juicing_health.html), can help effectively block the enzymes that inhibit the proper function of 2-AG. In essence, marijuana cannabinoids essentially restore synaptic communication by feeding an ailing body the cannabinoids it lacks, which are absolutely vital for proper cell function and communication.

“Endocannabinoid compounds are created naturally in the body and share a similar chemical structure with THC … (and) are distinctive because they link with protein molecule receptors — called cannabinoid receptors — on the surface of cells,” explains the UCI report. “Because the body’s natural cannabinoids control a variety of factors — such as pain, mood and appetite — they’re attractive targets for drug discovery and development.””

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037445_marijuana_cannabinoids_autism.html#ixzz2DRNu5iDg

Cannabis-like chemical combats chief genetic cause of autism

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“Natural cannabis-like chemicals in the brain may help combat the leading genetic cause of autism, research has shown.

Scientists linked blockages in a signalling pathway dependent on the compounds, called 2-AG endocannabinoid transmitters, with symptoms of Fragile X syndrome.

Correcting the fault with drugs led to dramatic behavioural improvements in mice with a version of the condition.

Fragile X syndrome is the most common known genetic cause of autism.

It results from a mutation in the FMR1 gene on the female X chromosome. Men possess one copy of the chromosome, paired with a male Y chromosome, and women two.

Boys are much more likely to be born with Fragile X than girls. This is thought to be because with two X chromosomes, a defect in one may be compensated for by the other.

People with the syndrome suffer mental impairment, learning difficulties, and may be hyperactive or impulsive. They also possess notable physical characteristics such as an elongated face, flat feet and large ears.

“What we hope is to one day increase the ability of people with Fragile X syndrome to socialise and engage in normal cognitive functions,” said lead researcher Professor Daniele Piomelli, from the University of California at Irvine in the United States.

The study was the first to identify the role of endocannabinoids in the neurobiology of Fragile X, she said.

About endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoid compounds are created naturally in the body and share a similar chemical structure with THC, the primary psychoactive component of the marijuana plant, Cannabis.

Endocannabinoids are distinctive because they link with protein molecule receptors — called cannabinoid receptors — on the surface of cells. For instance, when a person smokes marijuana, the cannabinoid THC activates these receptors. And because the body’s natural cannabinoids control a variety of factors — such as pain, mood and appetite — they’re attractive targets for drug discovery and development.”

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/cannabis-chemical-combats-chief-genetic-cause-of-autism-16216090.html#ixzz2DRLsbjJO